ATI SKILLS- VITAL SIGNS Flashcards
INSPIRATION
an active process that involves the diaphragm moving down, external intercostal muscles contracting, and the chest cavity expanding to allow air to move into the lungs
expiration
a passive process that involves the diaphram moving up, external intercostal muscles relaxing, and the chest cavity returning to its normal resting state
what regulates breathing
respiratory center in the medulla of the brain and the level of co2 in the blood
what components are involved in the accurate assessment of respiration
rate, depth, and rhythm
what factors can alter a client’s respiratory rate
exercise, anxiety, fever, low hemoglobin can all increase
neurological injuries and meds can slow the respiratory rate
tachypnea
rr faster than 20/min
bradypnea
rr slower than 12/min
cheyne stokes
breathing cycles that increase in rate and depth and then decrease and are followed by a period of apnea
causes of cheyne stokes
heart failure
increased intracranial pressure
eol
biot’s respirations
period of slow and deep or rapid and shallow breathing followed by apnea
causes of biot’s respirations
cns abnormalities
kussmaul’s respirations
deep and gasping respirations
what causes kussmaul’s respirations
renal failure
septic shock
diabetic ketoacidosis
depth of breathing
aka tidal volume
amount of air that moves in and out of the lungs with each breath
what instrument determines precise tidal volume
spirometer
how can you estimate tidal volume
by observing the expansion and symmetry of chest wall movement during inspiration and expiration
the binaural assembly of a stethoscope includes what parts
ear tips (earpieces)
ear tubes (binaurals)
tubing
bell of the stethoscope
cup shaped
for low pitched sounds
diaphragm
flat/drum-like part
high pitched sounds
what does the strength of the pulse correlate with
the volume of blood being ejected against the arterial walls with each contraction of the heart
blood volume affect on pulse
decrease- weak and difficult to palpate
increase- bounding and easy to palpate
radial pulse
easiest to access
most frequently checked peripheral pulse
normal adult pulse rate ranges
60-100/min
factors affecting pulse
sex (higher in women)
age (higher in infants/children)
exercise
meds
decreased SaO2
blood loss
temp
bradycardia
pulse less than 60/min
thyroid activity, kyperkalemia, irregular cardiac rhythm
increased intracranial pressure
tachycardia
hr faster than 100/min
chf
hemorrhage
shock
dehydration
anemia
dyspnea
sensation of difficult or labored breathing
why palpate a client’s pulse
determine circulation distal to the pulse site and for rhythm, guality, and strength
apical pulse
most reliable noninvasive way to assess cardiac function
s1
tricuspid and mitral valves close at the end of ventricular filling and just before systolic contraction
s2
when the pulmonic aortic valves close at the end of systolic contraction
determining an apical pulse
use anatomical landmarks for correct placement of the stethoscope over the apex of the heart so you can hear the heart sounds clearly
how long to count pulse
30 seconds
1 minute if irregular
when to use the apical pulse
when the client has a history of heart related problems or is taking cardiovascular meds
count while pt is at rest
if pt has been active, wait 5-10 minutes
how to calculate pulse deficit
subtract radial pulse rate from the apical pulse rate
takes 2 people counting at the same time for 1 minutes
pulse deficit
occurs when the heart contracts inefficiently and does not transmit a pulse wave to peripheral sites
sign of alterations in cardiac output
sphygmomanometer
basic nonelectric blood pressure cuff
correct bp cuff size
20% greater than the diameter of the limb at its midpoint or 40% of circumference
what is bp
force that blood exerts against the vessel wall
systole
when the ventricles of the heart contract forcing blood into the aorta
diastole
low point
when the ventricles relax and minimal pressure is exerted against the vessel wall
normal bp ranges for adults
90-119mmHg/ 60-79 mmhg
normal blood volume
remains constant at 5000 mL
factors affecting bp
blood volume
age
ethnicity
sex
position changes
exercise
weight
anxiety
meds
time of day
nicotine use
how is bp measured in hemodynamically unstable pts
invasively by inserting a small catheter into the brachial, radial, or femoral artery
when should an aneroid manometer be calibrated
every 6 months
the bladder of the bp cuff should encircle what
at least 80% of the arm
*make sure to note the size of the cuff it is not a standard adult cuff
5 korotkoff sounds
- clear rhythmic tapping that coincides with the systolic bp
- whooshing sound
- knocking sound
- softer blowing sound that fades
- disappearance of sounds (diastolic bp)
*if you hear sounds all the way to 0 mmHg, record the 4th sound as the diastolic bp
pullse pressure
difference between the systolic and diastolic values
number is usually between 30 and 50 mmHg
hypertension
2+ high bp readings at 2+ visits after the baseline is obtained
how can you control htn
diet
exercise
antihypertensive meds
hypotension
low bp
reports of feeling dizzy or lightheaded
orthostatic hypotension
systolic drops/increases more than 20 mmHg when client moves from recumbent to sitting position and then standing position
related to decrease blood volume, prolonged bed rest, older age, and meds
if the client has coarctation of the aorta (a congenital heart defect), how will bp be affected
arm bp will be higher than leg bp
when to assess bp in lower extremities
can’t measure bp on upper extremities
brm bp in adolescent/young adult seems unusually high
two areas of the leg where you can measure bp
- thigh just above the knee using the popliteal pulse. 1 inch above the popliteal arter with the bladder over the posterior aspect of the mid thigh
- calf just above the ankle using the posterior tibial pulse
bp differences when using lower extremities
- systolic reading in the thigh is usually 10-40 mmHg higher than in the arm while diastolic usually remains the same
common types of thermometers
electronic
tympsnic
temporal
chemical dot/ strip
why dont many hcf no longer use mercury thermometers
environmental hazards that these devices pose
parts of electronic thermometer
rechargeable/battery powered display
thin wire cord
2 temp probes
blue tipped probe
oral temp
red tipped probe
rectal temp
what does a tympanic thermometer consist of
otoscope-like tip with an infrared sensor on the end thay detects head radiated from the tympanic membrane
tympanic membrane
thin, semi transparent membrane that separates the auditory canal from the middle ear or tympanic cavity
to obtrain an accurate reading from a tympanic thermometer it is important to
place the probe at the proper angle for sealing the ear canal